Suffolk County Council Labour Group attempt to Call-In Cabinet cuts to Fire Service

Attempt to halt Cabinet decision to cut Fire Service is unsuccessful

The Labour Group at Suffolk County Council has been unsuccessful in an attempt to call-in the Conservative Cabinet decision to implement cuts to the Fire Service in Suffolk.

The cuts, which reduce the number of full-time fire crews and appliances, were unanimously voted through by the Conservative Cabinet on the 17th May. Labour attempts to call-in the decision – on the grounds that this decision was not made openly at Full Council and that it ignores the overwhelming opposition to the cuts expressed in the public consultation – were turned down.

Cllr Peter Gardiner, Labour Group Spokesperson for Public Protection, said “At the last meeting of Full Council, the entire Conservative Group voted against the cross-party motion calling for the proposed cuts to be reversed. Their argument was that we had not had the results of the consultation at that time. Well the results are in and yet the Cabinet have taken it upon themselves to make this decision, rather than opening it to a vote at Full Council.”

Labour Group Leader, Sandy Martin, added “This has always been about cost-cutting, not public safety. The Cabinet’s determination to cut what is already the most efficient and cost effective Fire Service in the UK flies in the face of the public consultation, which they have ignored.”

Cllr Martin concluded “I am deeply disappointed that this decision could not be called-in. Nevertheless, the Labour Group has put forward another motion for next week’s session of Full Council calling for these cuts to be reversed. The fight to save our Fire Service is far from over.”